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West Elk Mine Protection of Hydroloeical Balance - 2.05.6 (3)(a-c) The purpose of this section is to assess the probable hydrologic consequences from mining of the E Seam within the South of Divide permit revision area. This includes impacts to the surface water as well as the groundwater systems within the active mining area. The existing surface water and groundwater resources that may be impacted are described in Section 2.04.7. Key findings in Section 2.04.7 include: (1) All of the streams in the pemut azea aze ephemeral with flows occurring only in response to snowmelt and significant rainfall events (the exception is a small portion of the Deep Creek channel in Section 35); (2) The vast majority of springs in the South of Divide pernut azea are located at least 400 feet above the E Seam; and (3) With the exception of certain fault systems, groundwater is very limited in the active coal lease azea and there aze no groundwater supply wells at the mine or in the immediate vicinity that could be affected by mining. There aze no "aquifers" in the permit area that will be undermined. Hydrologic consequences that aze evaluated herein include: • Disruption, loss, or relocation of ephemeral stream or spring flows • Changes in ephemeral stream or spring water quality • Disruption or loss of reservoir or stock pond capacities • Disruption, loss or storage of groundwater in certain formations, which could, in tum, affect the limited water resources in the area including springs and stock ponds • Changes in groundwater quality as a consequence of groundwater movement from one formation to another or as a result of interception and/or storage of groundwater within the mine • Wetland impacts hiformation contained in the following sections demonstrates that only in limited circumstances can theseprobable hydrologic consequences occur within the West Elk Mine pemut area A discussion of these circumstances, their consequences, and protection, mitigation, and monitoring measures is provided. West Elk Mine Experience W WE's evaluation of the probable hydrologic consequences draws heavily on information obtained from current and previous mining of the F and B Seams, respectively, at West Elk Mine. As described previously in the Subsidence Survey section, WWE (working closely with Messrs. Rold and Dunrud) has detemuned that previous experience regazding subsidence and hydrologic consequences for the current permit area, applies to the South of Divide permit revision azea as 2.05-149 Revised June 1005 PRlO